~ Primary Meanings of The
Word Bless In Scripture ~
There are three primary meanings in the Scriptures of the concept bless
(or blessing).
Giving
Undeserved Good ~ “And God
blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the
seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’
So the evening and the morning were the fifth day” (Genesis
1:22-23).
Setting
Apart or Consecrating ~ This is a much less frequent use of the term
in Scripture. “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He
rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis
2:3).
The Desire,
Hope or Wish for Good ~ “So they sent away Rebekah their sister and
her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men.
And they blessed Rebekah and
said to her: ‘Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands;
and may your
descendants possess the gates of those who hate them.’ Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they
rode on the camels and followed the man.
So the servant took Rebekah and departed” (Genesis
24:59-61).
“Then Isaac said, ‘Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore, please take your weapons, your
quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me savory food, such as I love, and
bring it to me that I may eat, that my
soul may bless you before I die’ … Isaac said, ‘Bring it near to me, and I will
eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may
bless you.’ So Jacob brought it near
to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Come near
now and kiss me, my son.’ And he came
near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: ‘Surely, the
smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed” (Genesis 27:2-4, 25-27).
additional note ~ The
word bless is used primarily in the Old Testament however there are some uses
of the word in the New Testament. “Jesus
said, ‘Bring them here to Me.’ Then He
commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish,
and looking up to heaven, He blessed and
broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the
multitudes” (Matthew 14:18-19). In this
New Testament example the word bless has the connotation of being grateful,
giving thanks, or receiving something with a grateful spirit.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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